Q

Father Figure: Zun Lee's intimate portraits of black dads

Documentary photographer Zun Lee on challenging the stereotypes surrounding black fathers.
Documentary photographer Zun Lee joins guest host Terry O'Reilly to discuss his project Father Figure -- a series of striking portraits that challenge the one-dimensional and often disparaging stereotypes surrounding black fathers.

Lee explains how a revelation from his mother complicated his relationship with the topic, and why realistic portraits -- not idealized representation -- are so rare and difficult to capture.

"There's only certain visual tropes that the media allows to bubble up to the top," says Lee. "We love to look at black men as athletic, as sexual objects -- as anything but nurturing and caring."

Hear the full interview by clicking on the listen button above, or view a selection of images in the gallery posted below.